The Best RPGs of 2013

Share This:

The Best RPGs of 2013

Share

It is that time of the year when most of what the year had to offer has passed us by, and we get ready to reflect back to all that we have experienced and start to judge the merits of its offerings.

We here at Segment Next have compiled our own best of 2013 for every category of games that came out during the year.

The following article will present five best games in its particular category, and the winner will be determined by the result of the reader poll in the coming month.

Best RPGs of 2013

With all the talking of JRPGs dying out in the modern era, 2013 was the year when the Japanese Role Playing Games came back with full force and proved everyone wrong.

It is therefore, no surprise that this year’s top five RPGs are all from Japan.

Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch
Adapted from critically acclaimed DS game of the same name, Wrath of the White Witch featured the same easy to pick up yet deep monster collection gameplay as its portable counterpart but the console version highlighted a breathtaking art and presentation style made in conjunction with the legendary anime studio Ghibli.

With its spectacular visual and audial style mixed with charming characterization and robust gameplay, Ni No Kuni presented an experience that was refreshing for RPG aficionados and new comers alike.

Pokémon X & Y
Not only was X & Y a sequel to one of the hottest gaming brands but also featured notable changes to the franchise which , despite its success, has been sometimes been accused of staleness.

Along with the obligatory refinements of previous concepts and additions to the roster of available Pokémon in the game, X & Y also introduces gameplay changes like Mega Evolutions as well as a first-time venture into a fully 3D polygonal world, which allowed the new entry to breathe new life into Pokémon franchise.

Shin Megami Tensei IV
With the fourth iteration of the immensely popular Shin Megami Tensei series, Atlus brought the series to Nintendo’s 3DS system with a fresh world to explore with the Demon Fusion system at hand and fully voiced campaign, which was a first for the series.

While the characterization was not up to the mark of Persona 4, SMT 4 featured an engaging story, steep learning curve, addictive gameplay and vast amount of content that truly delivered the best value for money as a portable RPG title.

The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
While a return to the isometric 2D Zelda game might seem like a step back from the beautiful world of the Ocarina of Time 3D, A Link Between Worlds is no slouch in the presentation or gameplay department.

A direct sequel to, what some claim as the best Legend of Zelda title; A Link to the Past, the game is a perfect nostalgia bomb for the fans of the SNES classic and due to its lenient learning curve, colorful presentation, unique game mechanics and rousing soundtrack, A Link Between Worlds is a great jumping point for anyone looking to jump into The Legend of Zelda franchise.

Fire Emblem: Awakening
Though it is the thirteenth entry in the famed Fire Emblem series, Awakening reinvigorates the franchise with gameplay additions like the Seal system and the ability to pair different units and inculcate new relationships leading to new units and new powers.

Not just content with introducing new systems, Awakening also offers an unprecedented level of customization in its presentation and gameplay elements. This coupled with the refinement of old Fire Emblem tropes with the amount of new gameplay and content offered really makes it the ultimate Strategy RPG on a portable device.